I think we can finally call this our total amount raised, I'm so grateful to everyone for the support and money given to bring us to this amazing amount of money raised for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Thank you all so much.


£3,963.00 wow

Wow!! Just found out the total raised from the London to Paris cycle ride completed with Shaun Nicholas, Now his company Archant have matched his contribution we have a grand total of £3813 

Thank you all sooooo much for your help in getting us to this amazing amount.

Paris

It been over a year since we started planning Ride4Ruby, we have now completed the 330 miles from Trafalgar square to the Eiffel tower.
Our last day Cycling into Paris was difficult the milage was only 35 we just never got going with traffic lights on red, traffic generaly and road closures for le tour de France I think by the time we got to the Eiffel tower it was nearly as long as our previous days cycling. On arrival at the Eiffel tower we got the photos to prove our trip, then headed off to watch the end of the tour.
With the tour fininshed we headed off to find our hotel to get freshened up then off out for food and a few drinks.

Abbeville to Villier St Paul

With 80 miles Ahead of us the 5 am storm did not bode too well for us today. After a bit of supply shopping we left Abbeville heading south for Villier St Paul, after my slight altercation with a bus we began to make good progress in reasonable weather.
The weather soon turned sour, giving us a good soaking for our efforts! Pete seems to have perfected hill climbing leaving me for dead on most of the steep gradients, something us Norfolk boys are not used to. We have passed through some fantastic scenery and ridden on the best roads ever, it's a pity it has to end soon.
Riding together we have both had our 'darker' moments, when being on a bike, lost, in the middle of France in the rain is the last thing you want to do. But having a great mate with you to spur you on is a real tonic. Chapeau Pete.
We have decided to sack our 'guide dog' Jack, he has been of no use at all, he never seems to be able to send us in the right direction at all!
Having just returned to our room after our meal and a couple of pints of 'painkiller' thoughts once again return to friends and family, we are missing you all immensely and cannot wait to be home. Today's highlight must be reading our sponsorship total at over £1800 !!!
It makes everything so worth while. Thank you all so much xxxx Ride safe guys Shaun x


Ps

Abbeville

Calais to abbeville looked like it was going to be wet and windy, it soon changed becoming sunny and quite warm the windy was strong but in our favour most of the time.
The journey consisted of 40 miles of some quite long up hill rides then flatting out for awhile with the last stretch giving quite rewarding down hill sections.
On arriving at our cubical the long awaited hot soak was not possible with no room for us and the bikes.
A vast quantity of food was consumed to replenish what had been zapped from us on the route.

Laying here in bed I hear thunder and rain so not really looking forward to cycling today as the terrain holds some long climbs for us Norfolk boys.

Calais

After leaving London we cycled in to the Kent rolling countryside well it felt more like the alps in places. We stopped for a pasta lunch in Maidstone which went to a very good home, only stopping for about 1/2 hour taking on more fluids for the rest of the trip down to Dover.

The weather has been very kind to us so far with only light rain as we cycled from London into Kent.

On the ferry we had been chatting to a coupled who were driving down to see the tour, while waiting to exit the ferry the woman came over and handed us £20 asking us to donate this to ride4ruby, how very generous we don't even know there names.

With a well deserved pain killing beer last night we checked our route down to Abbivile then off to bed.

And in my bag I packed...........

Pete and I have been trying to 'organize' ourselves for the trip. We are both taking rucksacks, problem is what do we take with us? I have been packing and unpacking my bag with various bits and pieces, the usual toothpaste and deodorant comination will of course prevail, but as far as clothing goes I cannot get my luggage down to a reasonable size.!
I will be making another trip to Cycles UK later this week and the more I think about things the bigger the list is getting, the list of 'spares' seems to increase the closer the departure date gets!! Maybe just one more spare tube, or another pack of gels? I haven't even considered how much underwear to take (maybe I can get away with turning certain items inside out?)
All in all I am sure Pete and I are going to have a great experience along the way, we have been avidly watching the Tour De France. It's strange to think in a few days time we will be in France watching the great race ourselves, hopefully we will have managed to do some laundry along the way !!

Ride safe,
Shaun.